As a freelancer without any set routine, it is important to structure your day to achieve maximum productivity. It’s all too easy to slip into laziness and procrastination and before you know it, the day has ended without you achieving much. Read on for our tips on things to do before starting your work day:

1) Meditate:

Don’t wake up and allow your mind to drift. Dedicate at least 5 or preferably 10 minutes for meditation. Take a few deep breaths and focus on staying still trying to think of nothing. Meditating centers you and lets you calm your mind. You’ll feel rejuvenated and charged up to tackle the rest of the day after you finish.

2) Get some exercise:

As a freelancer, the majority of your working day will be in front of your computer. It’s all too easy to become sedentary which has health risks. Get some exercise during the early hours. Carve at least 30-45 minutes in the morning to do some workouts. Walking is an excellent way to take in some fresh air and burn some calories. Do some freehand exercises after that. High-intensity exercises like interval training is another option.

3) Check voicemail and your emails first:

If you are working remotely, you may have clients in different time zones. It’s possible that they may have left you a message when you were asleep. So, check your voicemail, emails and social network messages to ensure you don’t miss any last minute changes from your clients. However, don’t spend more than 15-20 minutes on this as it’s all too easy to get distracted. You don’t want to go off on a tangent checking irrelevant social media posts.

4) Organize your desk:

Take a few minutes out to organize your desk each day. If you have a disorganized desk, then your mind will become disorganized as well. It is all too easy to let unnecessary items stack up on your desk. Be disciplined and ensure that everything is in its proper place. If you do this, you will find it much easier to focus on your tasks for the rest of the day.

5) Make a To-Do list:

When you sit down to work, take some time out to make a to-do list and stick to it for the rest of the day. Arrange tasks in order of priority. Try to tackle the difficult tasks first rather than put it off for later. Keep crossing items off as soon as you finish working on them. If you do so, the feeling of achievement at the end of the day will keep you motivated.

Freelancers can’t depend on set structures that working in an office brings. If you aren’t structured, then it may hamper your productivity. Follow our tips above to make the most of your work day and reap the benefits.